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0. H. WATKINS.

KNOTTER FOR GRAIN BINDBRS. No. 460,610. Patented 0013.6, 1891.

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0. H. WATKINS. KNOTTER PoR GRAIN BINDBRS.

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o. H. WATKINS. KNOTTER FOB. GRAIN BINDBRS.

No. 460,610. Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

' and the crank on the needle-shaft.

UNITED STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

ORLA H. WATKINS, OF ELDORA, IOVA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF .TO JAMES F. HARDIN AND CHARLES E. ALBROOK, OF SAME PLACE.

KNOTTER FOR GRAIN-BINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,610, dated October 6, 1891.

Application ledllliay 14, 1891. Serial No. 392,721. (No model.) i

To all whom t may oon/cern.-

Be it known thatI, ORLA H. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eldora, in the county of Hardin and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Knotter for Grain-Binders, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to harvesters, and more especially to the knotters used in selfbinders; and the object of the sanne is to produce certain improvements in devices of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the four sheets of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a general plan view of this inachine. Fig. 2 is a right end elevation. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the knotting and holding mechanism. Fig. a is a section on the line et t of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 3, viewed in the opposite direction from Fig. 4., more especially illustrating the positive movement for the knife-lever. Fig. l5 is an enlarged perspective detailof the sliding connection between the driving pitman Eig. 7 is a central vertical section through the knotting mechanism. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the lower portion of Fig. 7, viewed in the direction of the arrow 8, with the hub of the bevelgear in section. The remaining figures illustrate the operation of the machine. Fig. 9 is a perspective View' taken in the direction of the arrow 9 in Fig. 1 and showing the parts in their initial position. Fig.` 10 is a plan view of Fig. 9, showing the needle raised, the holder open, and the fingers about grasping the ends of the gavel-loop. Fig. 11 is a similar View showing the needle a little farther forward, the holder closed, the second strand of the gavelloop cut, the fingers moved a quarter-revolution from the position shown in Fig. 10, and the pivoted jaw raised beneath the strands of the. gavel-loop. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the knetter, only showing the fingers moved a little over a half-'revolution around the spindle from the position shown in Fig. 11, the strands of the gavel-loop drawn over themselves and under the pivoted jaw, and

vthe ends of these strands nearly slipped out from between the fingers. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of Fig. 12, viewed in the direction of the arrow 13 thereon, showing the fingers as having progressed slightly farther to release the ends of the strands and showing the spindle as commencing to rise with the pivoted i aw closed over the strands. Fig. 14 is a similar elevation, except that the fingers are broken away on the line 14 of Fig. 12, the spindle having raised completely and the knot formed to complete the gavel-loop, the parts in this position being again in their initial position, except that the spindle is raised.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter F designates the fram e-work of thisimproved machine, which carries the usual breast-plate A2, and in a tubular portion F of the framework is journaled a main shaft Z, driven by any suitable power, as a gear-wheel Z', and carrying the discharge-arms A. Upon the right-hand end of this shaft is lixed a disk A2, having upon one face an annular radiallyprojecting iiange e2, broken away at one point e2, Fig. 5, and adjacent this point a cam E2. At each revolution of the .disk this cam engages a roller D at the upper end of a bellcrank lever C, the latter being pivoted at c to the frame A and having a slot c at its lower end, this lever serving as the knifelever hereinafter described.

The letter D designates a bell-crank lever pivoted at its angle at d to the frame A on the other side of the disk A2, slotted at the end of its lower arm, Figs. 4 and 7, to engage an anti-friction roller C2, and the end of its upper arm being extended vertically, Fig. 4, in theinitial position of the knotter and adapted to engage against an anti-friction roller or stud cl2 on the disk A2 and on the face thereof opposite the cam E2. The said disk also carries a segment of gear-teeth d3 at its periphery on this face, which atthe proper time engages a bevel gear-wheel B2, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The shaft Z is secured through the center of this disk A2, and a frame A has sleeves a2, at its upper end forming bearings for this shaft and is connected at its lower end to the breast-plate A3 each side of a needle-slot A4 therein.

The letter H designates a bar having a pin 71j at one end engaging the slot c in the lever C, and secured to the breast-plate A3 is a IOC spring L, pressing this bar normally inward. The other end of the baris bifurcated, as at K, where its arms pass through recesses 7L in the opposite sides of a projection P, rising from the base of the frame A. At the inner end of the bifurcation of the bar `H the latter is provided with an enlargement O, normally borne by the spring L into contact with the projection P, and the faces of these contacting members are inclined to a transverse line through the bar H, the enlargement being preferably toothed, as seen in Fig. 1.

J is a knife secured to the bar l'I and adapted to pass across the inner corner of the projection P to cut the band, as hereinafter described.

rlhe frame A is formed with a circular bore a, extending from one of the sleeves a2 down to its lower end, and is also slotted, as shown at I), to permit of the vertical reciprocation of a guide-lug c3 on the knotter-spindle C4 within said bore, the spindle carrying on an axle c7 at its upper end the above mentioned antifriction roller C2, moving within the slot in the lower end of the bell-crank lever D, and by the movements of the latter the spindle is caused to reciprocate vertically within the bore a. The spindle is grooved, as at c2, to receive a longitudinally-reciprocating rod E, whose lower end impinges against the head of a jaw E', this jaw being pivoted, as at C20, in the lower end of the groove c2.

H is a rotating sleeve, Figs. 7 and 8, having its upper end formed as shown, and extending upwardly within the hollow portion of the hub of the bevel gear-wheel B2, where it is secured by screws B7. The inner portion of said hub has a face h2, corresponding to that of the upper end of the sleeve lfl, thereby providing a sinuous causeway or channel h4, in which travels an anti-friction roller h2, carried by the upper end of the rod E, an opening h3 being made in the upper end of the hub to permit the ioller h2 to pass out of the causeway and the rod E to be moved vertically when desired. The sleeve Il has a slot H2 in one side at a proper point to permit the jaw E to swing outwardly a trifle into the slot, for a purpose hereinafter to be described, the lower end of the slot being rounded or beveled, as shown at H3, to cause the jaw to close as the spindle moves vertically.

J41 is a collar adjustably secured upon the lower end of the sleeve H by a set-screw J 5, and projecting from this collar is a radially-extending arm J', whose outer end is bent downwardly, as best seen in Fig. 9, and then curves around to the rear in the direction of rotation of the sleeve, its end being bent outwardly and its extremity upwardly to form the upper grasping-finger J2. Riveted or otherwise secured beneath this linger is the lower grasping-fin ger J 3, which follows approximately the curvature of the upper finger, except that its extremity stands about in a horizontal plane. On the upper side of the upper finger is secured or may be cast an inclined lug j2, facing outwardly. On the upper side of the lower finger near its extremity is a catch j, facing inwardly and not of suilicient height to come in contact with the lower face of the upper iin ger, and between the two iin gers inside of the point where they commence to curve outwardly is a stop j, all these parts being for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

In the needle-slot A4 of the breast-plate A3 is located an inclined guide l, whose body S forms a stop for the needle, as hereinafter described, and the upwardly-inclined tip l of this guide stands in contact with the lower end of the spindle CAl when the latter is lowered, as seen in Fig. 19.

The letter G designates what l shall call the finger-guide, because it guides the band into the fingers at the proper time, and G' is the knife-guide, because it serves the same purpose for the knife.

G2 is a knot-guide, secured at the position shown within the slot in the breast-plate, as best seen in Fig. li.

On the gear-wheel Z or on the main shaft Z is a crank-pin Y, to which is pivoted a pitman-rod M, adjustable in its length by means of the nut N in Fig. 6. The other end of this pitman has a sleeve Q, which is pivotally mounted on a stubshaft r, that passes through a pair of blocks R and intermediately through a slot t inI the outer end of acrank T, the blocks sliding against the sides of said crank and ha vin g inturned lips R sliding over the edges thereof. This crank is keyed at its inner end upon a shaft U, which extends through suitable boxes and carries the needle B.

Upon the crank is an ear V, through a hole in the outer end of which passes a rod lV, having an eye XV at one end loosely embracing the stub-shaft r, adjacent the sleeve Q, and having its other end threaded, as at WW. A nut X turns on this threaded end and compresses an expansive spring X against the other side of the ear V to draw the sleeve Q and with it the stubshaft r normally inward in the slot t.

Vith the above construction of parts the operation is as follows: The band, leading from a spool or ball, passes over the back of the needle and out the point of the same at l, whence it leads above the inclined guide I at the point 2 against the inner face of the needle at the point 3, being pressed against said face by the expansive force of the gavel around which it next passes. After completing the gavel-loop it passes upwardly through the slot A4 in the breastplate, around and closely over the inclined guide l at the point 8, around the end of the enlargement O, and is clamped between this enlargement and the projection P at the point 4. In this position of parts it will be understood that the further ascent of the needle simultaneously compresses the gavel and draws the band around IOO IIO

it, as shown in Fig. l0. As the needle finishes its upward movement the band at the point 5 is drawn over the beveled inner face of the finger-guide G, whereby it is guided in front of the approaching fingers and is drawn over the bar H with considerable tension. The gear-segment d3, next engaging the beveled gear B2, turns the sleeve H, and the fingers being thereby moved in the direction of the arrow grasp the two strands, as in Fig. 10, and these strands pass between the extremities of the fin gers'over the catch t72 and against the stop jas the fingers continue to move. The cam E2 is so located on the disk A2 that j ust as the fingers are at the position shown in Fig. l0 the cam engages the rollerDand moves the knife-lever C. This retracts the bar H against the force of the spring L and draws the enlargement O out of'contact with the projection P, thereby releasing the end 4, which tlies around to the position shown in Fig. l0, and the continued movement of the fingers draws both strands under the knifeguide G and down into the space between the then retracted knife and the corner of the projection P, the tension exerted by the beveled lower face of the knife-guide bending the strands tightly over the corner of the stop j and preventing the expansive force of the gavel from drawing these strands out of the lingers at this time, which would be lindesirable, and the body of the needle also assisting. The bar H being next moved by the disengagement of the cam E2 with the roller D and the positive movement of the knifelever C by the iiange e2 on said roller, (as well as by the force of the spring L when it is used, although itwill be obvious that it is not essential,) the edge of the knife J is driven across the corner of the projection P, thus severing the feeding-strand of the band at the point 6 and permitting it to iiy out, as shown in Fig. il, from beneath the knife-guide G', while the end in rear of where the cut was made is clamped between the enlargement O and the projection P at the point 40 and becomes the end 4 of the next gavel-loop. At this position of parts or about this time the sinuous causeway h, above described, and shown in Fig. 8, causes the rod E to descend, and thereby raises the pivoted jaw E', which it will be understood comes up beneath the two strands of the gavel-loop being formed at the point 7, although these strands have been drawn up the inclined face of the guide I at the point S, so as to be wrapped around the spindle above the pivoted jaw, and the latter is therefore not subjected to the strain which would be caused by raising' them. The fingers next turn to the position shown in Fig. l2, thereby coinpletingt heir revolutionarou nd the spindle, where they remain until the knot is tied and the needle has descended to receive another gavel, and the movement of the fingers to this position draws the strands over themselves at the point 8, where they -rested on the inclined guide and Abeneath lthe jaw E, the lugj2 preventing the ends of the strands slipping too quickly over the fingers, so that they might fly from beneath the jaw E and not be caught thereby. If desired, this lug maybe made high enough to sustain the tip of the pivoted jaw as it passes beneath the same, thereby causing the jaw to positively engage the ends of the strands when said jaw descends. The stop j and the catch js also prevent the ends from iying out too quickly. At this point the stud d2 on the disk A2 engages the upper vertical arm of the bell-crank lever D and turns the saine about its pivot d, so that its' lower end rises, thereby drawing the knetter-spindle C4 partly up into the sleeve H', as in Fig. 13, and with it the rod E, whose roller h2 passes through the then registering-opening h2 in the hub of the gear-wheel B2. This upward movement of the spindle and rod draws the pivoted jaw E also partly up into the sleeve H and at its back against the lower end thereof, which is slightly rounded, as at H2in' Fig. 7, thereby causing the face of the jaw to close upon the strands of the gavel-loop, as seen in Fig. 13.

In Fig. 14 the spindle is shown drawn completely up into the sleeve I-I, which, it will be understood, is caused by the further movement of thel bellcrank lever D, and the strands which were wrapped around the spindle have slipped off the same to form the knot K. At this point the crank-pin Y on the driving-wheel Z in Fig. 2 has reached the pointl lO and the stub-shaft fr is at the inner end of the slot t in the crank T. The continued revolution of the drive-wheel Z then causes the crank T to descend and the needle B to recede, as will be clear. I may here state that the stub-shaft ris retained by the spring X at the inner end of the slott in the crank T throughout the balance of the revolution of the drive-wheel and crank and until the crank-pin Y reaches the point ll, when the needle israised, as illustrated in Fig. 2. At this time the needle is held against the gavel and against the stop S, as seen in Fig. l0, while the crank-pin Y is moving to the point 10, and during such movement the knot is tied in the manner above described, while the compression of the spring X allows the stub-shaft r to slide outwardly in the slot tin the crank as may be necessary to permit the crank-pin Y to move over its highest point without operating the crank T. As the needle recedes from contact with the gavel the expansion of the latter draws upon the loop around the same, and at this time the discharge-arms A strike the bundle to throw it off the machine, and by these means a tension is imparted to the gavel-loop; but the spindle having ascended and drawn the ends of the loop up into the saine, thereby permitting the strands to slip around the end of the guide I IOO IIO

as soon as the spindle draws out of contact tension on the gavel-loop. The upper end of the loop is thus drawn with considerable force beneath the knot-guide G2, as seen in Fig. 14, and the knot K is thereby prevented from catching on the sharp edge of the slot A'L in the breast-plate, the tension on the loop resulting in drawing the knot K very tight. Vhen the spindle rises to its highest point, the jaw E' swings outwardly slightly within the slot ll2 in the sleeve Il', as seen in dott-ed lines in Fig. 7, and by this means the ends of the tied gavel-loop are released and allowed to drop out of the spindle as the bundle is discharged from the machine, when the parts are in condition for renewed and continued operation. The stud d2 stands in the angle of the bell-crank lever D to hold the spindle raised, and as the disk A2 revolves this stud passes over the lower arm of this lever at the proper time and causes the spindle to descend with the pivoted jaw closed. The mechanism above described then raises the needle B, and the parts stand again at the initial position shown in Fig. 9, after which the formation of the next loop takes placein the same manner.

That is claimed as new is- 1. In a knetter for harvesters, the combination, with a sleeve having a slot in one side extending nearly to the lower end of the sleeve and the latter being there rounded, of a vertically-moving spindle within said sleeve, having a groove registering with said slot, and a jaw pivoted in said groove and adapted to swing into said slot, as and for the purpose set forth.

In a knetter for harvesters, the combination, with the knotting, holding, and cutting mechanisms, of a needle mounted on a transverse shaft, a crank on said shaft, having a slot near its outer end, blocks on each side of and sliding upon the crank, a stubshaft passing through said blocks and through the slot, a sleeve on said stub-shaft, a pitman connecting the sleeve with acrank-pin on the driving-wheel, a perforated ear on the crank, a rod passing through said ear and having an eye at one end embracing the stub-shaft adjacent the collar and its other end threaded, a nut on the threaded end, and an expansive spring between the nut and ear, as and for the purpose set forth.

In acutter and holder for harvesters, the combination, with a projection rising from the frame and having recesses in its sides near its base, of a longitudinally-reciprocating bar having one end bifurcated and engaging said recesses, an enlargement on said bar adapted to strike the face of the projection, and a knife secured to the edge of the bar and adapted to pass over the corner of the projection, substantially as described.

4. In a cutter and holder for harvesters, the

combination, with a projection rising from the frame, a longitudinally-reciprocating bar having an enlargement adapted to strike the face of the projection, and a knife secured to said enlargement and adapted to pass over beneath said guide, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a cutter and holder for harvesters, the combination, with a stationary projection, a longitudinally-reciprocating bar having an enlargement abutting against said projection, and a knife, of a needle moving across and above said bar, a finger-guide directing the band from the needle properly onto the bar, and grasping-lingers timed to engage the band at this point, substantially as described.

6. In a knetter for harvesters, the combination, with the knotter-spindle and the needle, of outwardlycurved lingers turning about said spindle and having divergent and pointed extremities, a stop between said lingers, and an inwardly-facing catch on the upper side of the lower linger, substantially as described.

7. In a knetter for harvesters, the combination, with the needle, the kn otter-spindle, outwardlycurved lingers turning about said spindle and having divergent extremities, and an outwardly-facing stop between said lingers, of a holder, a knife, and a knife-guide, substantially as specified.

8. In aknotterforharvesters, the combination,with the needle, the knetter-spindle, outwardly curved fingers turning about said spindle and having divergent extremities, an outwardly-facing stop between the lingers, and an outwardly-facing lug upon the upper linger, of a holder and a knife, substantially as described.

9. In a knetter for harvesters, the combination, with the needle, the knetter-spindle, out wardlycurved fingers turning about said spindle and having divergent extremities, an outwardlyfacing s top between the lingers, an inwardly-facing catch on the lower linger, and an outwardly-facing lug on the upper linger, of a holder and a knife, substantially as described.

10. In a knetter for harvesters, the combination, with the verticallyreciprocating spindle and a jaw pivoted thereto, of the curved grasping-lingers moving around said spindle, a beveled lug on the Lipper linger moving under said pivoted jaw when the latter is raised, and a needle, as and for the purpose set forth.

l l. In a knetter for harvesters, the combination, with the breast-plate having a slot, a curved plate mounted on the breast-plate adjacent said slot and serving as a knot-guide, and a vertically-moving spindle, of the grasp ing-fingers and the needle, substantially as described.

12. In aknotter forharvesters, the combination, with the vertically-reciprocating spindle, a jaw pivoted thereto, and an inclined guide whose tip touches the spindle when the latter is lowered and whose upper face rises above the jaw, of the rotating grasping-lingers and the needle, substantially as described.

13. In aknotter for harvesters, the combina- IOO ITO

tion, with the breast-plate having a needlei needle mounted thereon and moving through slot, a stop secured therein, and an inclined guide projecting from said stop, of the vertically-reciprocating spindle contacting with Said guide when it is lowered, the needle moving through said slot into Contact with said stop, and yielding connections for raising said needle, substantially as described.

14. In a knotter for harvesters, the oombination, with the breast-plate having a needleslot, a stop secured therein, and the knotting mechanism proper, of a needle-shaft, the 

